Drug interactions
Charcoal + Leflunomide
Severity: Moderate
Charcoal and Leflunomide: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Activated charcoal binds leflunomide's active metabolite teriflunomide and interrupts its enterohepatic recirculation, lowering levels. This effect is used deliberately in leflunomide washout and would reduce therapeutic effect during routine treatment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Charcoal and Leflunomide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Charcoal belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Leflunomide belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Charcoal adsorbs the drug in the gut and interrupts enterohepatic recycling of teriflunomide.
What to do
Avoid routine charcoal use during leflunomide therapy, or separate dosing by several hours. Use charcoal intentionally only for drug elimination.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Charcoal
- Charcoal + Citalopram Moderate
- Charcoal + Digoxin Moderate
- Charcoal + Methotrexate Moderate
- Charcoal + Theophylline Moderate
- Charcoal + Tiratricol Moderate
- Acarbose + Charcoal Minor
Other interactions of Leflunomide
- Bcg vaccine live + Leflunomide Contraindicated
- Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal + Leflunomide Contraindicated
- Leflunomide + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live Contraindicated
- Leflunomide + Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live Contraindicated
- Leflunomide + Measles vaccine Contraindicated
- Leflunomide + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Charcoal with Leflunomide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Charcoal and Leflunomide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Activated charcoal binds leflunomide's active metabolite teriflunomide and interrupts its enterohepatic recirculation, lowering levels. This effect is used deliberately in leflunomide washout and would reduce therapeutic effect during routine treatment.
How serious is the interaction between Charcoal and Leflunomide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid routine charcoal use during leflunomide therapy, or separate dosing by several hours. Use charcoal intentionally only for drug elimination.
What other medicines interact with Charcoal?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Charcoal with, for example, Citalopram, Digoxin, Methotrexate. The full list is on the Charcoal page.
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